As if he heard his name being called, Banks slowly cocks his head to stare at the back of Rhett’s mane of red. Banks is one of the loudest who routinely labels me a rogue wolf. He’s a mid-level delta, just like me, but if he could have his way, he’d challenge my status and call for my exile. He’s always wanted to have more of a say in the pack. And if I’m not mistaken, I think he’s had his eye on being beta for a while. Though as long as Rhett and Paloma are our leaders, I doubt they’ll accept anyone but Woody by their sides. He may be an elder, but he’s still our second strongest. No doubt Banks is just waiting for the day Woody passes.
“You think he would threaten Raegan?” I ask, referring to Banks.
“I think very few still consider you a member of this pack, and instead more like a loose string they want to cut.”
The comment stings. I glance at Banks again, taking in his cocky smirk. He reminds me of Patrick, and immediately my blood starts to boil. “Why don’t you put them in their place?” I growl. “They’ve seen my loyalty. I might not live with the pack, but I always come back.”
“Packs are meant to be our family, Jamie, and family sticks together.”
I scoff. “There are plenty of families who live apart,” I say. “My mom and dad are in the city, but they’re still my parents.”
Before Rhett can give a retort, hurried footsteps race toward the shelter and skid to a halt just in front of where we’re seated.A flushed teenage boy around the same age as Casey is breathing heavily and clutching his side.
“There’s someone here to see you,” the kid huffs, still trying to catch his breath.
I assume there’s someone here for Rhett, but when I meet the young wolf’s eyes, he’s looking right at me.
Chapter Sixteen
RAEGAN
There’s a tall and lanky nerd of a man wearing black framed glasses standing guard outside the entrance of the werewolf camp. I’m small, but I’m pretty sure if I really wanted to get by, I could knock this guy on his ass.
Currently, he’s squinting at my face as if he’s trying to place me.
“Need your prescription updated?” I ask, attempting humor.
The sound of my voice seems to trigger his memory, and finally the muscles in his scrunched expression soften to recognition. “Raegan! It’s you!”
I tilt my head and further examine the man in front of me. If he knows me, shouldn’t I know him? As I look him up and down, I take in his baggy jeans and ripped brown sweater. The yarn is fraying in multiple places, and there's a slit cut into the collar, whether on purpose or by accident, I’m unsure. His face does look familiar, and now I’m giving him the same scrutinizing expression.
I try to imagine him without the clothes. Not naked—because eww—but the style is throwing me off. Then it hits me.
“Tyler!” He beams once I’ve realized who is his. “Nerdy little Tyler Paulson. I used to babysit you when I was in high school!”
He blushes. “Still nerdy,” he confesses shyly, pointing to his glasses. To me he’s giving more of a scholarly skater style.
“You stopped my laptop from crashing when I had that major science paper due! Wow, you’re all grown up.” I take him in again. Puberty didn’t necessarily fill him out, but it shot him to about six feet. “I heard you work at the tech store.”
Tyler nods proudly. “Yep. I’m a Gadget Ghoul.”
“I didn’t know you were a werewolf.”
For a second, I wonder if that was rude of me to say, but my attention is suddenly pulled to someone behind his right shoulder.
My stomach flutters.
A shirtless Jamie comes to stand behind Tyler and places a steady hand on his shoulder.
“Hey there, lemon,” he greets me, voice rough with a longing I can’t quite put my finger on, but the instant heat it elicits between my legs leaves no room for interpretation.
Holy shit.It’s official: I want Jamie bad.
I’ve seen him without a shirt before, but not since my sexual enlightenment. Instead of just seeing him as a best friend who happens to be male, now I see him as…well,verymale. I’m obsessed with the toned shape of his muscles and how they balance so well with his slender flame. He’s not a buffed out body-builder, but the V cut beneath his abs is deliciously detailed.
Tyler steps away, a very different expression on his face now that Jamie is here. He almost looks worried. He glances back at me and something clicks behind his eyes, then he scurries off into the camp.
What the hell just happened?
